Redwings Horse Sanctuary in Norfolk celebrates 40th birthday

In December 2022, Barney, a foal, was found collapsed in a pile of rubble in Essex and was rescued by Redwings Horse Sanctuary

A charity dedicated to saving animals from "a life of fear and neglect" says it has rescued more than 5,500 horses, ponies and donkeys over 40 years.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary, based in Hapton, Norfolk, started in 1984 when it rescued a pony called Sheba.

The organisation claims to be the UK's largest horse welfare charity.

"We're really proud of how far it's come," said Nicola Knight, its head of communications and campaigns, who has worked there for 20 years.

To mark the 40th anniversary milestone, staff will be holding a Great Ruby Tea Party on Wednesday 24 April.

A party was held to mark Willow's 45th birthday in 2023

The charity's oldest inhabitant is Willow, a 46-year-old Welsh pony, that it took in 2003.

Jude Palmer, from the charity, said: "She came from somewhere with not much human interaction so she was quite nervous and scared."

The charity said it rescued animals from a farm in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, inside 24 hours

In 2008, 32 members of its staff took part in a "ground-breaking rescue" in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, when more than 100 horses, ponies and donkeys were rescued from a farm.

It eventually gave safe haven to more than 60 animals from the farm, with about 47 still alive now.

Queen Camilla was happy to see some of the horses close up at Anna Sewell House, in Great Yarmouth, in June 2023

In July, it was honoured to welcome Queen Camila to Anna Sewell House in Great Yarmouth, where the writer of Black Beauty was born in 1820, and which the charity has looked after since 2022.

"We'd never had a royal visitor before and it was amazing," said Ms Knight.

"In 2015 we helped to bring in the Control of Horses Act. I think we've led the way in terms of looking after horses.

"We talk about transforming lives - it's not just about taking a horse in, we will commit to its long term care, as we have our own in-house vets and behaviour teams, but we pull out all the stops to let them live the best life they possibly can."

The charity has visitor centres in Caldecott and Aylsham in Norfolk, as well as in Harlow, Essex, in Warwickshire, in Scotland, and sanctuaries elsewhere in the UK.

Alfie was rescued in 2023, close to Norwich, after he was injured in a suspected dog attack

Alfie was treated by the charity and is now doing well